A/N: Hi Everyone! I know it's been about a month since I last posted to this story. I had to prioritize the Blue Spirit story since it had a few more chapters to go. That story is now finished and I will regularly post to this story and to my new story "Hatched" about Aang. The title chapter is not actually about Zuko graduating and leaving school. The word commencement refers to a start or beginning. This chapter will be the start or beginning of a new arc in the story and events will definitely escalate and change after the next chapter or two. There is so much more to this story that will probably shock and surprise you farther down, but I hope you will like the direction I take it. Of course as always, if you likey, follow or favorite or both, and drop a review to let me know what you think.
Disclaimer: Fanfiction is for commencements...
Chapter 7— The Grand Commencement
The next three weeks were filled with training in decorum and speech as a battle strategy when dealing with the nobility and others as well. Madame Hachi told the women to never take for granted the power of using clear, formal, and upright speech with anyone. Zuko was soaking it all up like a sponge.
On more than one occasion, she realized opportunities she had to use this ability to get what she wanted and didn't because she was so straight forward, plain, and no-nonsense which most people loved about her and the nobles found disconcerting. Zuko realized she missed chances to get others on board with her ideas because they felt her speech was too coarse for a princess and didn't respect the thoughts behind her words because of this.
The people of the nation, however, just saw Zuko as down to earth and genuine. Madame Hachi called the ability to speak within her culture on differing levels "code-switching" and it included the skill to know when to use colloquial language versus when to use formal speech. Zuko understood this now and held close to her heart the key to working with anyone.
Lady Hayato was a taskmaster when it came to Zuko developing her energy field bending. Zuko was afraid to manifest it because of the potential it had to destroy as she did with the arrow before. She would never forgive herself for harming or Agni forbids killing someone with her ability when they would have no way to defend themselves against it.
It frustrated the Lady to no end as she pushed Zuko but the princess only gave half her effort. Lady Hayato knew that there needed to be a change or Zuko would never reach her potential.
"Zuko let's just stop here today. I don't think we are getting anywhere. You refuse to allow your ability to express itself. What are you afraid of my dear?" She asked her annoyance bubbling under the surface.
Zuko felt her irritation and felt frustration too. She didn't want to mistakenly hurt someone she cares about because they want her to "explore her potential." Zuko sighed heavily rolling her eyes.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe I'm not prepared to vaporize my mentor accidentally! Why are you so determined for me to use this ability? It destroyed an arrow! What could it do to a person? I don't think it's responsible to continue." A woman called out to answer.
"I think it's more irresponsible not to continue. Do you not trust your mentor to use care with you? Do you not think her skilled enough to train you?" Zuko froze. She knew that voice and she was suddenly seven years old again.
"Mom?" she whispered without turning around. She was too afraid her mind was playing tricks on her like it did Azula's on occasion. Her bottom lip trembled as she considered what to do. The woman spoke again.
"Will you not look at me Akiko?" At the name her mother gave her, Zuko's face crumpled and fat tears fell mingling with the dust streaking Zuko's face. She inhaled sharply.
Zuko wanted to turn around, but her heart was so conflicted with anger, joy, love, betrayal, and grief all at once. She did the only logical thing a girl of sixteen could do when she wasn't sure of what to do: She ran. Lady Hayato called after her.
"Zuko! Come back dear Princess!" but Zuko was already meters away and had no intention of stopping. The woman stepped up next to Lady Hayato.
"Ryo, this might not have been the best way to handle that situation," Ursa said grimacing. Lady Hayato rolled her eyes and smirked.
"You think, genius? It's obvious who the girl gets her not thinking things through from…" Ursa glared at her friend with a small smirk of amusement. Lady Hayato gestured towards the house and beckoned Ursa to follow her.
"One thing about your daughter is that once she's had a moment to collect herself, she will return. Until then let's have some tea and wait until you can talk with her." Ursa sighed sadly and followed her oldest and dearest friends into the familiar house.
Zuko was beside herself as she continued running until she met the sea. On the beach, on the far side of the island the coast was mostly uninhabited. Occasionally Madame Hachi would prepare lunch for the girls to enjoy on the private beach, but now the beach was deserted and barren. Kind of the way Zuko felt for most of childhood.
She dropped cross-legged on the sand and stared out into the ocean. She knew it wasn't very mature of her to just run away from her mother like that. She had even wished for her mother to return! Now that she was there… So many thoughts, memories, and emotions flooded her mind:
It was well past midnight and Zuko was in and out of sleep. Earlier that evening after Zuko's disastrous firebending demonstration for Grandfather Azulon, Azula tormented Zuko with the story that Grandfather ordered Ozai to kill her for father's wanting to take Uncle Iroh's place as the next in line after Lu Ten went missing in action at Ba Sing Se. Azula's singsong voice was full of teasing and malice as she swung on Zuko's bedpost. "ZuZu, Daddy's gonna kill you. It's true. I heard Grandfather talking about it. If I were you, I'd run away. It seems like no one really wants you after all." Ursa came into the room furious as she overheard her youngest daughter.
"Azula! Don't speak to your sister that way. What are you talking about? Kill…Come with me right now!" she barked pulling a surprised Azula along to her room. Zuko sat in her room too afraid to sleep and too afraid to be awake in case what Azula said was the truth. She knows Azula always lies but only when the truth is not more effective. Was she telling the truth? Zuko shivered in her bed with tears in her eyes for several hours until sleep overwhelmed her. It was like a dream. Her mother came in hooded and cloaked for travel and she whispered urgently.
"Akiko, listen to me. Everything I've done, I did to protect you. My love you are precious to me. You are my bright autumn." Her voice caught with heavy sorrow. She wiped the tears from her eyes quickly and spoke with urgency as she heard shouts in the far corridor. "Please, never forget who you are, Aki. No matter what people say to you. Do you understand?" Zuko was groggy and murmured, "Mommy? What's going on? Are you leaving?" she asked still not sure if the situation were real. "Akiko, understand, and remember what I said. I love you!" Ursa declared kissing Zuko on her forehead, her cheeks, and eyelids. She held her daughter for a long moment and rubbed her daughter's nose affectionately.
Ursa smiled and hid a shudder from her grief when Zuko whined to go back to sleep, but gave her one last gentle touch to her hair and covered her with her blanket. Ursa stood in Zuko's doorway and took one final look at her daughter and turned to run out into the dark and foreboding night. The next morning, Zuko's grandfather was dead in his sleep and Ozai was declared the next Fire Lord. Zuko vaguely remembered her mother speaking to her and leaving in the middle of the night. Azula was bitter that their mother had not come to see her. It wasn't until Zuko participated in the war for herself that she realized all the events that led to that tragic night and her mother's part. Her mother used her skills as an herbalist to end Grandfather Azulon, but she in turn saved Zuko's life by giving Ozai what he wanted—the throne.
As the memories faded, Zuko's focus returned to the sea and she sat watching the waves in their constant ebb and flow. It reminded her of her best friend Katara and the way she bent water. Sometimes Katara's water in motion reminded Zuko of the waves of heat that sometimes radiated off her firebending. Zuko got an idea.
She stood dusting off the sand and debris on her clothes. She bowed to the sun and to the ocean and began her basic firebending katas. She moved through the first position using only heat watching the way the waves moved and what they felt like. She tried tapping into the ebb and flow of the waves the way Katara described them.
She felt force and power behind her heatwaves and that they could be manipulated. Zuko moved through the next kata doing the same with the heat but intensifying it without creating a flame. The heat felt more solid as if it was tangible.
As she moved into a more advanced kata, Zuko concentrated on the feeling she got when she put up her energy field. She focused her inner fire and willed the heat to take form in her hand. She encouraged the power to become more rigid like her Dao. Soon she had a shimmering broadsword that moved to her will.
Zuko encouraged her other hand to form and wield a second Dao and she moved through her fencing positions. The energy hummed in her hands and cut through the air like lightning through clouds. She felt like one solid ball of energy and the swords were an extension of her.
In her excitement, Zuko wanted to see what would happen if she used her sword to cut something and swung at a tree trunk with both Dao.
She watched a thin crisscrossed line of fiery red heat sizzle on the trunk and the tree slowly began sliding to the ground at the point of impact. Zuko stopped in shock and jerked as if she had just killed a person as the tree thudded to the sand an unsuspecting victim of her enthusiasm.
This skill was definitely not something she needed to use unless she was in absolute danger. She hesitated to think of what would happen to a person if she allowed herself to use that weapon against them. She apologized to the tree for ending its life so needlessly.
The sun was getting lower to the horizon and Zuko needed to get back to the house. Her mother was there, and she had questions that needed answering.
Though Zuko still felt a slight ache at the shock of seeing her mother after so many years, she felt that the winds of fate had blown her mother back into her life once again. She offered another thank you to the setting sun and the ocean for their help with her bending and hurried off through the path leading to Madame Hachi's school.
The sun was well set when Zuko entered the building. Dinner had been served and most of the young women were preparing for bed. Zuko walked sheepishly to Madame Hachi's chambers where she assumed her mother would be. As she knocked, the door opened and Lady Hayato was standing eyes wide with surprise.
"Oh Princess! Thank goodness you're back. I was preparing to go send out a search party for you. I presume you want to go in to speak to your mother now?" She said sheepishly.
Zuko put her arms around Lady Hayato pulling her into a tight hug. She shut her eyelids as she rested her head on her shoulder and resisted the urge to cry again. Lady Hayato inhaled sharply but then relaxed and gently patted Zuko's back with a gentle smile. Zuko let go and sighed.
"Thank you for bringing my mother back to me. It means everything to me even if I reacted badly." Lady Hayato smiled.
"I would love to take credit for your mother being here, but it was actually Madame Hachi who contacted Lady Ursa." Lady Hayato smiled and chuckled as she patted Zuko's shoulder. "I'll take my leave now." She said as she saw the princesses face.
Zuko blushed a beet red as she stepped into Madame Hachi's chambers. She bowed to Madame Hachi and her mother.
"Good evening, I apologize for my late arrival. I didn't mean to be gone for so long." Zuko greeted formally. Madame Hachi smiled in amusement.
"It's quite alright dear princess, please come in and have a seat. Tea?" she asked gently.
"Yes please," Zuko replied.
She didn't realize how hungry she was until her stomach gurgled at the thought of tea and perhaps a few fruit tarts. Once Madame Hachi had warmed and served the delicate chamomile tea that was like her uncle's she spoke.
"That was quite a thank you dear one. Even if it wasn't for me. I know you have become quite fond of Lady Hayato as she has of you and I'm not surprised you assumed she contacted your mother." The Madame said looking over at Ursa who was as silent as a stone. She seemed nervous and jittery as if she would bolt if someone spoke to her.
Zuko bit her lip as she held her cup mid-air. Her eyes darted over to her mother and she noticed that Ursa had a few gray hairs where there had been none before. She also noted that her mother like Madame Hachi was a classical beauty and though she had aged some over the years her mother was quite lovely.
She could easily see why her father and grandfather had chosen her mother as a bride. Zuko suddenly felt like a little girl again as she stared at her mother but spoke to Madame Hachi.
"I do thank you for contacting my mother and I am glad that she is here. Would you mind if we spoke…privately?" Zuko asked hesitantly. Madame Hachi smiled knowingly.
"Of course, my dear, I think that would be most appropriate. Ladies, I will take my leave now." Both Ursa and Zuko stood and bowed to Madame Hachi simultaneously. They smirked at the synchronicity.
Ursa found her voice and said, "Madame, I am very glad you sent your invitation as well. My daughter and I have much to discuss. Thank you and have a good night." Ursa smiled sincerely and gave Madame Hachi's hand a gentle squeeze just as Zuko had done the night before.
Madame Hachi smiled at the similarity between mother and daughter and nodded bowing as she left the room. When the door clicked shut Zuko turned to her mother.
"I remember the night you left. I know I was tired and cranky and terrified, but I do remember. It was the saddest day of my life…" she said fighting not to burst into tears once again. Ursa's face crumpled in sadness and shame.
"If I could have taken you with me Aki, I would have. I had no choice but to leave you behind. Your father demanded that you stay and after what I did… Your father would have tracked us down and killed us both, but I know you needed me. Everything I did was to protect you. You've become such a strong and beautiful young woman." She said wiping large droplets from her eyes and sniffling.
Zuko wiped her own tears secretly remembering what her mother did that banished her from the palace. Her eyes widened at the thought that someone believed she was strong and beautiful. She scoffed slightly.
"I wish father could see that. No matter what I do it seems like I cannot please him. Every step I make is a faux pas. Everything I say is offensive. That's the reason I'm here— in remedial etiquette school." She said sadly. Ursa hummed in understanding.
"So, he's found creative ways to distance himself from you. I'm sorry that has happened. You don't deserve it," she said shaking her head in remorse. Ursa then looked at her daughter and smiled.
"There is a silver lining behind your dark clouds, Aki." Her lips held a trace of mischief. Zuko looked at her mother curiously.
"What do you mean Mom?" she asked. Ursa then gave a hearty chuckle and brought her voice to a whisper. She leaned in as if she had a wonderful secret to share.
"You're learning how to beat Ozai at his own game through Madame Hachi. That alone puts you at an advantage that you wouldn't have had otherwise. Being here even gives you an advantage over your sister." Zuko raised her eyebrows at the mention of her sister.
"Azula already knows how to conduct herself in court. How would this be an advantage for me?" Zuko lamented gesturing to the room signifying the school. Ursa gave her daughter an assured look.
"Azula may be shrewd but she doesn't know how to deal with people on a genuine level the way you do. That is your gift. You have a way of motivating people in any station because of who you are. Madame Hachi is only refining what is already within you." Ursa said with confidence. Zuko stared at her mother. She had never heard any of this before. Ursa continued to make her point.
"I've known this about you from the time you were quite small. You had a way of charming even the stoniest hearts and bending them to your will. Ozai used this to his advantage often. I wager he still does," Ursa whispered her smirk growing. Zuko sat stunned to silence at this information.
A picture began to form in her mind about events and situations where her father summoned her to meet with dignitaries and their families. Zuko enjoyed those times when she was spending time with her father even if it was for business. Could it be that her father depended on her more than he let on? What changed? She wondered. Ursa saw the wheels turning in her daughter's mind and she went on.
"My love, even as you grew older, I heard rumors of how the people of our nation love you. Many of them hope you will succeed your father as Fire Lord one day. Daughter, you rallied and commanded an entire army to your side at the age of fourteen and helped to end the Great war. You have endeared yourself to your people. Do not underestimate your value, Aki, or your strength. What you are learning now is preparing you for your greatest battle yet and I'm here to help you." Ursa emphasized. Zuko stopped breathing for a moment.
"You're staying?" she rasped. Ursa smiled simply.
"Only if you want me to stay. I would like to help train you in our shared skill and a few others." She said quietly.
Zuko swallowed audibly. She wanted to pinch herself again to see if what she was witnessing was a dream, but she already knew. Agni heard her prayer and gave her mother back to her. Her voice cracked with emotion.
"I would like that very much Mom." Zuko wiped the assault of tears away that returned with a vengeance. Ursa opened her arms and beckoned Zuko to come. She hesitated only a moment and fell into her mother's arms smiling and weeping simultaneously. She didn't know how she would feel about things tomorrow but for tonight she was glad to have her mother back in her life.